Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

That's it @featherhead007
Call in the troops, jaffar princess and the Ruddy drop bears this is a real battle about to commence
Look out RC we're coming to get you

Don’t forget the chickens in choppers!

 

[BY Bob]

All Together Now

Everyone is roasted in the Main Coop tonight. Even Phyllis.

 

[BY Bob]

Dotty came to sit with me to show she doesn’t really hate me as long as I don’t try to get above my station in life.

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She is so lovely!

 

[BY Bob]

Had a bit of a scare. Went out to the coop to remove some of the insulating cardboard (up to 54F from the 19 at dawn this morning). Jess and Twirp both come in. Twirp starts squawking, ostensibly about eggs, but she laid hers this morning before I opened the coop and NONE of the nest boxes were occupied. Jess quietly hops into a box and settles in. I take cardboard out, then spot the pair of red tailed hawks circling up from the pasture (never saw them on the ground). All the rest are up under the French lilac just off the deck. Move into very visible position for the hawks to see. Spot a 3rd...lose one of the others (they're getting higher and in the sun). They kept circling and Twirp came out of the coop, but stayed close to the building. I looped the coop and she went with me, back inside (smallest of the ladies). Lost the hawks, circled the garage looking. Checked on the others, where's Thing? Last I'd seen, she was under the deck by the wood pile. Nope, not there. Double back up, looking. Castor is asleep between the cinquefoil (potentilla) and the mint....Thing is in the middle of the rest of the tribe. How I missed her, I don't know. All present and accounted for.

Spring is here. The sandhill cranes are back. They take off, circle up, calling. Hawks are gone. 3 cranes seen. Hoping a pair decides to nest near by like last year. Watching the baby grow was fun. Looks like the sandhills will be good sentinels for hawk alarms/be-gones too.

So very scary. I'm glad everyone is OK. I have a thing about hawks.

 

[BY Bob]

We all saw how close you were.
It made me laugh seeing them both completing for your attention. Yes it was a short time but it was pure and quality time together. They had such happiness.

Thanks Marie.

 

[bgmathteach]

Sorry, it's been a while since I've checked in. We've not heard anything about Maryanne since the last photo so we assume no news is good news.

To answer the question, it worked well, but some snow still blew in through the uncovered top portion. Huge improvement, though, and the place was largely nice and dry inside. Here's a picture of how I secured the panels. Just made some simple turn-latches.

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Thank you! That looks great, and sounds like it worked really well (considering that you still need some ventilation)

 

[BY Bob]

@BY Bob .
Is the weather still as bad there?

It was up to 70°F today then severe thunderstorms came through. High tomorrow in the 50s. I think we may be done with freezing Temps moving forward so there is that.

 

[goldenfingers]

Thank you! That looks great, and sounds like it worked really well (considering that you still need some ventilation)

Oh, and I forgot to say that we put a tarp down on top of the deck so nothing got in between the cracks.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Mine just run away from me screaming blue murder. Except for Birdie who pecks.
I appear not to be liked very much in the chicken world.

This might help - have you tried not approaching them from above? If they can't fall out, have the brooder up on something so you aren't looming over them when you're around. Or at least sit down alongside the brooder if it's on the floor. Put your hand in and down along a side far away from them, and rest your arm on the brooder floor. Leave it there for a long time, not moving, for them to approach and eventually explore. Let them jump and crawl (and poop) on it. Start moving your hand only a little bit - like slowly moving fingers - after a while. Eventually do things food-oriented with it - tap on the food to draw them to it, tap on the water dish. Hold a bit of chick starter in between your fingers, showing it to them. Hope that helps. You are NOT somehow unlikeable in the chicken world, I can't believe that!

 

[GregnLety]

Has anyone ever heard bad news, and felt helpless about a situation? It’s not about the chickens or my horse. We are all healthy. (Personal issue, out of my control) I really am glad that I have an emotional support rooster on this issue!
Rant tax:View attachment 3042817

I hope all is well or will be ok